18Forty Podcast

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, the director of semicha at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), about the development of halacha. Rabbi Lebowitz has written numerous articles and several books on the practical applications of Jewish law and is behind the popular “Ten Minute Halacha” lecture series. •What is the role of rabbinic “intuition” in...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg - historian and Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows - about the history of halacha. While we take the system of halacha as we know it today for granted, many factors contributed to its current state. We discuss some of these factors, as well as some pivotal moments in halacha’s history, like the publication...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Moshe Koppel, professor of computer science at Bar-Ilan University to discuss some of the ideas in his books Judaism Straight Up and Meta-Halakhah. We discuss how to conceptualize the halachic system and explore how Halacha's development can be seen through the prism of language and what that means for our halachic commitment today. How should halacha be legis...

In this episode of 18Forty Podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Haym Soloveitchik, University Professor of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University. Professor Soloveitchik is a world-renowned scholar whose research has focused on the development of halacha—including martyrdom, pawn-broking and usery, as well as the laws of gentile wine. Much of his popular renown can be attributed...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to voicemails sent in by listeners and talk to two of our editors, Denah Emerson and Yehuda Fogel. 18Forty is a media company as well as a podcast. Between editing the podcast audio, writing the written material, and running the social media, there are many invaluable people who help run it behind the scenes. - What happens behind the scenes of 18F...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Marika Feuerstein about the life of her grandfather, Aaron Feuerstein. Aaron Feuerstein was the head of a successful family business that suffered serious setbacks after a fire destroyed its factory. He became famous for his commitment to the wellbeing of his employees, paying them even while they couldn’t work, but rebuilding came with challenges...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Ari Bergmann - PhD and financier - about the benefits of shemittah. The current Hebrew year, 5782, is a shemittah year, a year when the land rests. This has extensive economic effects on Israel’s agricultural community, as farmers are not allowed to work on or profit from their land. Ari, as an expert in both Talmud and finances, weighs in on some...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eli Langer and Zevy Wolman - hosts of the Kosher Money podcast - about financial literacy as it relates to Orthodox Judaism. The cost of living in Orthodox communities is tremendous, and seems to only grow. Between tuition, simchas, and more, families in America’s top one or two percent by income struggle to get by. - How severe is the issue of co...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Mark Trencher - founder of Nishma Research - about finances in the Orthodox community. Mark Trencher founded Nishma Research to survey the Jewish community about various important questions relating to Jewish life. His surveys are of wide-ranging subject matter, including reasons that people go off the derech, political orientation, opinions about...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Zohar Atkins, Rabbi and philosopher, about the role that philosophy - particularly rationalist philosophy - plays in Judaism. Zohar is a profound and poetic thinker who tries to lead an examined Jewish life. Despite being a philosopher, he is an advocate of doing, not just thinking. He takes the idea of there being 70 faces of the Torah to heart,...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Simi Peters - author and teacher - about Jewish faith and postmodernism. Simi is a scholar who is well-versed in both postmodern and Jewish thought. She has attempted to synthesize the two, grounding Jewish faith in postmodernism. While postmodernism calls into question the very ideas of truth and proof, she still believes that Judaism can be give...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens - philosophy professor and author - about the interaction of Judaism with analytic philosophy and mysticism. Samuel is an analytic philosopher, trained to analyze philosophical questions in a precise, almost mathematical framework. In his new book, The Principles of Judaism, he attempts to wed the foundations of Judaism to this frame...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Shmuel Phillips about the upsides and downsides of approaching Judaism rationally. Shmuel grew up debating religion, always thinking about why he practiced Judaism as he did. While many people practice Judaism because it’s what they grew up with, Shmuel believes that people could give more grounding to their faith. To that end, he authored...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous guest about the anxieties he experienced in a hyper rational approach to Judaism. Our anonymous identifies as a rationalist, or someone who likes to analyze the decisions in his life through a logical lens. He applied this to his Judaism. But as time went on, he began having doubts and questions and his life started to fall apart. Eve...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk about two impactful books about Shabbos and their authors. Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa was a seminal work about the halachos of Shabbos in the modern day. The Sabbath was an ode to the beauty and spirituality of Shabbos. Together they give two complementary perspectives, the halachic and the spiritual, on our beloved Shabbos. - Why are Shemiras Shabb...

In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Professor Jonathan Haidt about the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in honor of his yahrtzeit. Rabbi Sacks had a profound impact on the Jewish world, with his eloquent words giving a voice to many. He has spoken at length about how to construct a good and meaningful life using Judaism, as well as about morality, consumerism, spiritual truth, poli...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author and journalist Judith Shulevitz about the world of Shabbos. Through The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time, Judith introduced the secular world to the concept of Shabbos. She explores the power of a day of rest and the communal aspect that elevates it. - Does a secular Shabbos of unplugging work? - What is so radical about...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Senator Joe Lieberman - politician, lobbyist, and attorney - about the gift of Shabbos. Joe Lieberman lives a life in the public eye as an observant Jew. This exemplary dedication to his values is admirable and gives Joe a unique perspective on the benefits of Shabbos. - What gifts does Shabbos grant us that we take for granted? - What lessons can...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Pini Dunner and Rav Moshe Weinberger about the Yabloner Rebbe and his astounding story of teshuva. The Yabloner Rebbe was a chassidishe rebbe who helped found Kfar Chassidim. He disappeared and went to Los Angeles, where he went off the derech, but he later returned to Judaism and Kfar Chassidim in a remarkable example of teshuva. - Who was...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Miriam Gisser about changing, or even rebuilding, one’s life. Miriam’s husband passed away from a drug overdose, forcing her to rebuild her life for her and her family. She offers unique insight into how one can change and rebuild their life, whether after a tragedy, to do teshuva, or something else. - What are the scariest parts of change? - How...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Agnes Callard - professor of philosophy and author - about the philosophy of change. Many decisions in life can be made by weighing our values: if an action accords with our values, then we do it, and if it doesn’t, then we don’t. But when it comes to deciding what our values should be, we may need a different paradigm. - How do we make decisions...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Alex Clare - singer and baal teshuva - about changing identity and what if questions. Alex was a rising music star who left the music industry to pursue a religious life - what's known as a baal teshuva - then returned following international commercial success. He has faced many life-changing choices, and so has experience with navigating change...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Judah Mischel - executive director of Camp HASC and founder of Tzama Nafshi - about change and teshuva. Change is one of the most difficult things in life. We often wish we could snap our fingers and choose to live differently, but change usually takes time. We can think of change as a journey rather than a destination. - How can one appreciat...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rachel Grady - documentary filmmaker of One of Us and Jesus Camp - about the expressive power of documentaries. While fiction and non-fiction literature are powerful creative tools to explore an issue, documentaries have a unique power to portray communities from the inside. And while these portrayals may be uniquely powerful, they can also be uni...

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to David Hopen - law student and author of The Orchard - about finding truth in fiction, and particularly in myths. Though fiction and myths are by definition not true, they can still have great significance. Religious stories in particular can help guide us regardless of whether or not they’re literally true. In his book The Orchard, David tries to...